The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Charles Duke Yonge [e book reader android txt] 📗

PREFACE.

The principal authorities for the following work are the four volumes of Correspondence published by M. Arneth, and the six volumes published by M. Feuillet de Conches. M. Arneth's two collections[1] contain not only a number of letters which passed between the queen, her mother the Empress- queen (Maria Teresa), and her brothers Joseph and Leopold, who successively became emperors after the death of their father; but also a regular series of letters from the imperial embassador at Paris, the Count Mercy d'Argenteau, which may almost be said to form a complete history of the court of France, especially in all the transactions in which Marie Antoinette, whether as dauphiness or queen, was concerned, till the death of Maria Teresa, at Christmas, 1780. The correspondence with her two brothers, the emperors Joseph and Leopold, only ceases with the death of the latter in March, 1792.

The collection published by M. Feuillet de Conches[2] has been vehemently attacked, as containing a series of clever forgeries rather than of genuine letters. And there does seem reason to believe that in a few instances, chiefly in the earlier portion of the correspondence, the critical acuteness of the editor was imposed upon, and that some of the letters inserted were not written by the persons alleged to be the authors. But of the majority of the letters there seems no solid ground for questioning the authenticity. Indeed, in the later and more important portion of the correspondence, that which belongs to the period after the death of the Empress-queen, the genuineness of the Queen's letters is continually supported by the collection of M. Arneth, who has himself published many of them, having found them in the archives at Vienna, where M.F. de Conches had previously copied them,[3] and who refers to others, the publication of which did not come within his own plan. M. Feuillet de Conches' work also contains narratives of some of the most important transactions after the commencement of the Revolution, which are of great value, as having been compiled from authentic sources.

Besides these collections, the author has consulted the lives of Marie Antoinette by Montjoye, Lafont d'Aussonne, Chambrier, and the MM. Goncourt; "La Vraie Marie Antoinette" of M. Lescure; the Memoirs of Mme. Campan, Clery, Hue, the Duchesse d'Angouleme, Bertrand de Moleville ("Memoires Particuliers"), the Comte de Tilly, the Baron de Besenval, the Marquis de la Fayette, the Marquise de Crequy, the Princess Lamballe; the "Souvenirs de Quarante Ans," by Mlle. de Tourzel; the "Diary" of M. de Viel Castel; the correspondence of Mme. du Deffand; the account of the affair of the necklace by M. de Campardon; the very valuable correspondence between the Count de la Marck and Mirabeau, which also contains a narrative by the Count de la Marck of many very important incidents; Dumont's "Souvenirs sur Mirabeau;" "Beaumarchais et son Temps," by M. de Lomenie; "Gustavus III. et la Cour de Paris," by M. Geoffroy; the first seven volumes of the Histoire de la Terreur, by M. Mortimer Ternaux; Dr. Moore's journal of his visit to France, and view of the French Revolution; and a great number of other works in which there is cursory mention of different incidents, especially in the earlier part of the Revolution; such as the journals of Arthur Young, Madame de Stael's elaborate treatise on the Revolution; several articles in the last series of the "Causeries de Lundi," by Sainte-Beuve, and others in the _Revue des Deux Mondes_, etc., etc., and to those may of course be added the regular histories of Lacretelle, Sismondi, Martin, and Lamartine's "History of the Girondins."


CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Importance of Marie Antoinette in the Revolution.--Value of her Correspondence as a Means of estimating her Character.--Her Birth, November 2d, 1755.--Epigram of Metastasio.--Habits of the Imperial Family.--Schoenbrunn.--Death of the Emperor.--Projects for the Marriage of the Archduchess.--Her Education.--The Abbe de Vermond.--Metastasio.-- Gluck.

CHAPTER II.

Proposal for the Marriage of Marie Antoinette to the Dauphin.--Early Education of the Dauphin.--The Archduchess leaves Vienna in April, 1770.-- Her Reception at Strasburg.--She meets the King at Compiegne.--The Marriage takes place May 16th, 1770.

CHAPTER III.

Feelings in Germany and France on the Subject of the Marriage.--Letter of Maria Teresa to the Dauphin.--Characters of the Different Members of the Royal Family.--Difficulties which beset Marie Antoinette.--Maria Teresa's Letter of Advice.--The Comte de Mercy is sent as Embassador to France to act as the Adviser of the Dauphiness.--The Princesse de Lorraine at the State Ball.--A Great Disaster takes place at the Fire-works in Paris. --The Peasant at Fontainebleau.--Marie Antoinette pleases the King.-- Description of her Personal Appearance.--Mercy's Report of the Impression she made on her First Arrival.

CHAPTER IV.

Marie Antoinette gives her Mother her First Impressions of the Court and of her own Position and Prospects.--Court Life at Versailles.--Marie Antoinette shows her Dislike of Etiquette.--Character of the Duc d'Aiguillon.--Cabals against the Dauphiness.--Jealousy of Mme. du Barri.-- The Aunts, too, are Jealous of Her.--She becomes more and more Popular.-- Parties for Donkey-riding.--Scantiness of the Dauphiness's Income.--Her Influence over the King.--The Duc de Choiseul is dismissed.--She begins to have Great Influence over the Dauphin.

CHAPTER V.

Mercy's Correspondence with the Empress.--Distress and Discontent pervade France.--Goldsmith predicts a Revolution.--Apathy of the King.--The Aunts mislead Marie Antoinette.--Maria Teresa hears that the Dauphiness neglects her German Visitors.--Marriage of the Count de Provence.--Growing Preference of Louis XV. for the Dauphiness.--The Dauphiness applies herself to Study.--Marie Antoinette becomes a Horsewoman.--Her Kindness to all beneath her.--Cabals of the Adherents of the Mistress.--The Royal Family become united.--Concerts in the Apartments of the Dauphiness.

CHAPTER VI.

Marie Antoinette wishes to see Paris.--Intrigues of Madame Adelaide.-- Characters of the Dauphin and the Count de Provence.--Grand Review at Fontainebleau.--Marie Antoinette in the Hunting Field.--Letter from her to the Empress. Mischievous Influence of the Dauphin's Aunts on her Character.--Letter of Marie Antoinette to the Empress.--Her Affection for her Old Home.--The Princes are recalled from Exile.--Lord Stormont.--Great Fire at the Hotel-Dieu.--Liberality of Charity of Marie Antoinette.--She goes to the Bal d'Opera.--Her Feelings about the Partition of Poland.--The King discusses Politics with her, and thinks highly of her Ability.

CHAPTER VII.

Marie Antoinette is anxious for the Maintenance of the Alliance between France and Austria.--She, with the Dauphin, makes a State Entry into Paris.--The "Dames de la Halle."--She praises the Courtesy of the Dauphin.--Her Delight at the Enthusiasm of the Citizens.--She, with the Dauphin, goes to the Theatre, and to the Fair of St. Ovide, and to St. Cloud.--Is enthusiastically received everywhere.--She learns to drive. --She makes some Relaxations in Etiquette.--Marriage of the Comte d'Artois.--The King's Health grows Bad.--Visit of Marshal Lacy to Versailles.--The King catches the Small-pox.--Madame du Barri quits Versailles.--The King dies.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Court leaves Versailles for La Muette.--Feelings of the New Sovereigns.--Madame du Barri is sent to a Convent.--Marie Antoinette writes to Maria Teresa.--The Good Intentions of the New Sovereigns.-- Madame Adelaide has the Small-pox.--Anxieties of Maria Teresa.-- Mischievous Influence of the Aunts.--Position and Influence of the Count de Mercy.--Louis consults the Queen on Matters of Policy.--Her Prudence.-- She begins to Purify the Court, and to relax the Rules of Etiquette.--Her Care of her Pages.--The King and she renounce the Gifts of Le Joyeux Avenement, and La Ceinture de la Reine.--She procures the Pardon of the Duc de Choiseul.

CHAPTER IX.

The Comte de Provence intrigues against the Queen.--The King gives her the Little Trianon.--She lays out an English Garden.--Maria Teresa cautions her against Expense.--The King and Queen abolish some of the Old Forms.-- The Queen endeavors to establish Friendships with some of her Younger Ladies.--They abuse her Favor.--Her Eagerness for Amusement.--Louis enters into her Views.--Etiquette is abridged.--Private Parties at Choisy.--Supper Parties.--Opposition of the Princesses.--Some of the Courtiers are dissatisfied at the Relaxation of Etiquette.--Marie Antoinette is accused of Austrian Preferences.

CHAPTER X.

Settlement of the Queen's Allowance.--Character and Views of Turgot.--She induces Gluck to visit Paris.--Performance of his Opera of "Iphigenie en Aulide."--The First Encore.--Marie Antoinette advocates the Re-establishment of the Parliaments, and receives an Address from them.-- English Visitors at the Court.--The King is compared to Louis XII. and Henri IV.--The Archduke Maximilian visits his Sister.--Factious Conduct of the Princes of the Blood.--Anti-Austrian Feeling in Paris.--The War of Grains.--The King is crowned at Rheims.--Feelings of Marie Antoinette.-- Her Improvements at the Trianon.--Her Garden Parties there.--Description of her Beauty by Burke, and by Horace Walpole.

CHAPTER XI.

Tea is introduced.--Horse-racing of Count d'Artois.--Marie Antoinette goes to see it.--The Queen's Submissiveness to the Reproofs of the Empress.-- Birth of the Duc d'Angouleme.--She at times speaks lightly of the King.-- The Emperor remonstrates with her.--Character of some of the Queen's Friends.--The Princess de Lamballe.--The Countess Jules de Polignac.--They set the Queen against Turgot.--She procures his Dismissal.--She gratifies Madame Polignac's Friends.--Her Regard for the French People.-- Water Parties on the Seine.--Her Health is Delicate.--Gambling at the Palace.

CHAPTER XII.

Marie Antoinette finds herself in Debt.--Forgeries of her Name are committed.--The Queen devotes herself too much to Madame de Polignac and others.--Versailles is less frequented.--Remonstrances of the Empress.-- Volatile Character of the Queen.--She goes to the Bals d'Opera at Paris.-- She receives the Duke of Dorset and other English Nobles with Favor.-- Grand Entertainment given her by the Count de Provence.--Character of the Emperor Joseph.--He visits Paris and Versailles.--His Feelings toward and Conversations with the King and Queen.--He goes to the Opera.--His Opinion of the Queen's Friends.--Marie Antoinette's Letter to the Empress on his Departure.--The Emperor leaves her a Letter of Advice.

CHAPTER XIII.

Impressions made on the Queen by the Emperor's Visit.--Mutual Jealousies of her Favorites.--The Story of the Chevalier d'Assas.--The Terrace Concerts at Versailles.--More Inroads on Etiquette.--Insolence and Unpopularity of the Count d'Artois.--Marie Antoinette takes Interest in Politics.--France concludes an Alliance with the United States.--Affairs of Bavaria.--Character of the Queen's Letters on Politics.--The Queen expects to become a Mother.--Voltaire returns to Paris.--The Queen declines to receive him.--Misconduct of the Duke of Orleans in the Action off Ushant.--The Queen uses her Influence in his Favor.

CHAPTER XIV.

Birth of Madame Royale.--Festivities of Thanksgiving.--The Dames de la Halle at the Theatre.--Thanksgiving at Notre Dame.--The King goes to a Bal d'Opera.--The Queen's Carriage breaks down.--Marie Antoinette has the Measles.--Her Anxiety about the War.--Retrenchments of Expense.

CHAPTER XV.

Anglomania in Paris.--The Winter at Versailles.--Hunting.--Private Theatricals.--Death of Prince Charles of Lorraine.--Successes of the English in America.--Education of the Duc d'Angouleme.--Libelous Attacks on the Queen.--Death of the Empress.--Favor shown some of the Swedish Nobles.--The Count de Fersen.--Necker retires from Office.--His Character.

CHAPTER XVI.

The Queen expects to be confined again.--Increasing Unpopularity of the King's Brothers.--Birth of the Dauphin.--Festivities.--Deputations from the Different Trades.--Songs of the Dames de la Halle.--Ball given by the Body-guard,--Unwavering Fidelity of the Regiment.--The Queen offers up her Thanksgiving at Notre Dame.--Banquet at the Hotel de Ville.-- Rejoicings in Paris.

CHAPTER XVII.

Madame de Guimenee resigns the Office of Governess of the Royal Children.--Madame de Polignac succeeds her.--Marie Antoinette's Views of Education.--Character of Madame Royale.--The Grand Duke Paul and his Grand Duchess visit the French Court.--Their Characters.--Entertainments given in their Honor.--Insolence of the Cardinal de Rohan.--His Character and previous Life.--Grand Festivities at Chantilly.--Events of the War.-- Rodney defeats De Grasse.--The Siege of Gibraltar fails.--M. de Suffrein fights five Drawn Battles with Sir E. Hughes in the Indian Seas.--The Queen receives him with Great Honor on his Return.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Peace is re-established.--Embarrassments of the Ministry.--Distress of the Kingdom.--M. de Calonne becomes Finance Minister.--The Winter of 1783-'84 is very Severe.--The Queen devotes Large Sums to Charity.--Her Political Influence increases.--Correspondence between the Emperor and her on European Politics.--The State of France.--The Baron de Breteuil.-- Her Description of the Character of the King.

CHAPTER XIX.

"The